 "PBKS second team eliminated from IPL 2024 playoffs race after 60-run thrashing against RCB")
Punjab Kings (PBKS) became the second team to get eliminated from the playoffs race in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) following their 60-run defeat at the hands of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Dharamsala on Thursday.
Powered by Virat Kohli’s whirlwind knock of 92 off just 47 deliveries as well as valuable contributions from Rajat Patidar (55) and Cameron Green, RCB posted a humongous score of 241/7 after PBKS skipper Sam Curran opted to field in the second and final match of the season at Dharamsala’s HPCA Stadium.
South African batter Rilee Rossouw would then lead Punjab’s charge during their chase with a knock of 61 off just 27 balls, stitching a 65-run stand for the second wicket with England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow (27) that helped them recover from Prabhsimran Singh’s (6) early dismissal.
The Royal Challengers, however, would seize control once Bairstow and Rossouw were back in the hut, the latter getting dismissed by wrist spinner Karn Sharma shortly after guiding his team past the century mark. PBKS’s hopes began to gradually fade thereafter with wickets falling at regular intervals, and was virtually over once finisher Shashank Singh was dismissed on 37, with the hosts losing their sixth wicket with 151 on the board.
PBKS were eventually bowled out for 181, with Arshdeep Singh becoming the final batter to depart after getting caught by Karn off Mohammed Siraj’s bowling, Siraj finishing with figures of 3/43.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts3⃣rd wicket for @mdsirajofficial! 👌 👌
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 9, 2024
4⃣th win on the bounce for @RCBTweets as they pocket 2⃣ more points after beating #PBKS by 60 runs in Dharamsala! 👏 👏
Watch the recap on @StarSportsIndia and @JioCinema 💻📱#TATAIPL | #PBKSvRCB pic.twitter.com/pWYfAkTvXZ
Punjab can now collect a maximum of 12 points should they win both of their remaining matches — against Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) respectively.
Kolkata Knight Riders and RR currently occupy the top two spots with 16 points each with SRH at third with 14. The fourth team to enter the playoffs will also qualify with a minimum of 14 points and is expected to be one of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Delhi Capitals (DC) or Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
RCB, meanwhile, continued to keep their faint playoff hopes hanging by a thread by collecting their fourth win in a row after losing six matches on the trot. They currently sit at the seventh spot on the points table with 10 points to their name and will have to win both of their remaining matches — against Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings respectively — besides hoping other results go their way if they are to aim for a top-four finish.
MI had become the first team to officially get eliminated from the playoffs race following SRH’s clinical 10-wicket victory over LSG in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Like PBKS, they can collect a maximum of 12 points from their remaining matches — against KKR and LSG respectively.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 241/7 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 92, Rajat Patidar 55; Harshal Patel 3/38) defeated Punjab Kings 181 in 17 overs (Rilee Rossouw 61, Shashank Singh 37; Mohammed Siraj 3/43) by 60 runs.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
